I’m going to keep the Ralf K theme going, with this other great shot of a couple of very disparate wagons parked in front of Herb’s Towing. As different as they are the do have a couple of things in common.

They’re both two-door wagons, obviously. And they both came with 2.3 L four cylinder engines, although the Willys was also available with a six. I rather doubt either of them has their original engines anymore. One thing they don’t have in common: height. Needless to say, the Willys was a whole lot more roomy inside than the Vega.

I’m trying to get a grasp where the original tail/brake light might have been located and I ‘think’ it was a single light/license plate bracket assembly mounted underneath the driver’s side rear window. Does that mean this particular Willys didn’t originally come with illuminated turn signals? If so, the addition of the bumper with integral lights would certainly be a welcome addition for safety reasons, alone.

It also means that not only is the bumper a custom job, but so is the license plate light assembly.

George

Posted August 18, 2017 at 1:21 PM

Would have gone on the corner (below the D pillar) to the side of the tailgate. Backup lights were set into the tailgate (lower) when they were added.

Tons of Willys still have their original running gear. I’d give it 50-50 odds. One of mine has no engine, the other has an old Ford 289 swap. But on the various Facebook groups and other online forums, it seems half of the questions are about building and maintaining the various Willys (and Kaiser) flatheads and F heads.

I should stage my Willys, the 96 Explorer, and the 02 Suburban, although a 70’s IH Scout would be nice to add. (FWIW, the 96 Explorer is giving up its 302 to the Willys without an engine. The Willys with an engine is mostly going to donate random parts. Rust isn’t kind.)

Not sure what the bolt pattern of those were. Willys used 5×5.5. I think the El Camino from the last gen used 5×4.75. So that means an axle swap at the very least. Chevy trucks in 4wd usually used six lugs, unless an S10 or Blazer.

I’m thinking Blazer/S10 frame swap. Goofing off too much already at work to look at the wheelbases and see if a GM intermediate could have provided the wheels, bumper, and axles.

S10 rear axles are a popular V6/V8 Vega swap. Also, something I wasn’t aware of (from h-body.org): “The 3-link rear suspension setup in all Monzas and post-’75 Vegas is very good. It is similar to the H-Body configuration and the Third and Fourth Generation F-Body designs. The Camaro/Firebird setup from 1982 on was designed around the H-Body configuration.”

Both those rigs are similarly gritty yet appear to be solid and complete drivers. They both have an undeniable appeal that makes them both worth putting in some sweat to keep them going. Both are unlikely to see a concourse restoration…more like become someone’s hotrod/custom. I hope both of these are kept going for many more years. Both are becoming increasingly rare.

Regardless of what they might have in common I do love the wheels and exhaust on the Vega. For every car out there, there does come a time, when it seems to make the transition to muscle car status. Today a 383-2V Newport, 390-2V Galaxie, and 318-2V Polara are listed as muscle cars when for sale. Same applies to econo cars and here we are with this Vega, a wagon no less. Clearly a Willys is above this.

I grew up in one of these (1947-56), in maroon (the other option was green). This photo should answer the question of rear lights and license-plate holder; it appears that only the left-hand light was articulated, to appear, along with the plate, when the tailgate was down.

The car had ivory plastic push-button interior door latch releases, which reminded me at the time of something from a Lincoln. Any ideas ? The 60-horse 4 finally pooped out (I don’t recall the mileage), and Dad rued keeping a car for nine years — probably got very little for a trade-in !

There was a rectangular gauge cluster (including speedo) centered on the all-metal dash. Lots of exposed interior steel in that car . . .